Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel. The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus’ Path of Power in A Church that Has Abandoned It. Nashville, TN: Nelson Books, 2021. Revised and updated. 245 pp. $14.89.
Biographical Sketch of the Author’s
Jamin Goggin serves as a pastor at Mission Hills Church in San Marcos, California. He is also a co-founder of Metamorpha Ministries. Metamorpha Ministries prioritizes helping Christians on their faith Journey by providing Spirit-led resources, courses, retreats and soul care. Alongside pastoral responsibilities at Mission Hills Church, Jamin speaks at his faith journey in Christ at retreats, conferences, and churches. It is his ambition to point others toward the beauty and goodness of God.[1] He has a masters degree in New Testament Studies, a masters degree in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, and a PhD in Systematic Theology. Jamin co-authored The Way of the Dragon or The Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus’ Path of Power in a Church that Has Abandoned It, co-author of Beloved Dust: Drawing Close to God by Discovering the Truth about Yourself, and the editor for Reading the Christian Spiritual Classics: A Guide for Evangelicals. All three works were co-authored with Kyle Strobel. Jamin lives in Escondido, California with his wife Kristen and their four-children.
Kyle Strobel is the associate professor of Spiritual Theology and Formation at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and a co-founder of Metamorpha Ministries, with Jamin Goggin. Kyle and his wife live in La Mirada, California with their two children where he is on the preaching team at Redeemer Church. Alongside his teaching and preaching services in both the local church and academic theology, Kyle has written/co-authored several book and academic theological works. Kyle expertise’s in the theology of Jonathan Edwards, helped him produce Jonathan Edward’s Theology: A Reinterpretation. He co-authored alongside Jamin Goggin to write The Way of the Dragon or The Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus’ Path of Power in a Church that Has Abandoned It, and Beloved Dust: Drawing Close to God by Discovering the Truth about Yourself. He is also author of Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards, and Metamorpha: Jesus as a Way of Life. One may find Kyle caring about the shepherding of the flock of God, and teaching others to that end. For more about Kyle Strobel (and Jamin Goggin) visit www.metamorpha.com.
Synopsis
The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb couldn’t have come at a better time. The Evangelical church, especially in America, appears to be in deep trouble. What kind of trouble, one might ask? For Jamin and Kyle, one of the central problems in American Evangelicalism is the line between God’s power manifested for his glory versus the human tendency to subvert God’s power for the appearance of power by worldly means. It is Jamin and Kyle’s ambition to subvert the churches adoption of worldly power dynamics, the way from below, back to its rightful place, the way from above. To do so, the authors set out on an epochal journey to listen and learn from beloved gray-haired sages, including: J.I. Packer, James Houston, Marva Dawn, John Perkins, Eugene Peterson, and Dallas Willard. They also visit the shameful sexual abuse administered by Jean Vanier. The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb designates two-parts consisting of ten-chapters and conclusion: Part 1: Discovering the Way (Chapters 1-5); and Part 2: Embracing the Way (Chapters 6-Conclusion). Chapter titles are as followed: (1) The Ways of Power; (2) Power in Weakness; (3) Becoming Powerful; (4) Standing Against the Powers; (5) The Power of Love; (6) The Power of the Lamb; (7) The Power of Faithfulness; (8) Discerning the Way; (9) Walking in the Wilderness; (10) The Way of Resistance; and Conclusion: Living the Way.
The goal of their work lies in recalibrating the church toward a central dependency upon Christ, over and against the human propensity to rely on worldly power and strength. The kingdom of God advances not by the human powers of strength and wisdom, rather, Jesus’ kingdom expands by a God dependent weakness. Jamin elaborates, writing, “…we are called to humbly acknowledge the totality of our weakness and rely wholly upon God for strength (2 Cor. 1:9)” (p. 33). Therefore, to subvert the temptation or practice of worldly power dynamics, the church must embrace a humility and love for God and people. The individual and corporate expression of Christianity must be one saturated and immersed in the abiding love of Christ before abusive power structures within the church have a chance at reformation (p. 13). Reforming for reforming sakes is not enough, the preeminence of Christ’s abiding love is nonnegotiable.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb reminds us that even when our church appears to be “queen of the boomtowns,”[2] if it is not King Jesus’s demonstration of power, get the chaff ready for the fire. Jamin and Kyle provide readership with an epic number of pithy statements. Every page is laden with encouragement and conviction. One cannot help but wrestle with their own motivations for serving God. Every day the church is faced with choosing the way from above or the way from below, the way of Christ or the way of the world. Each person interviewed by Jamin and Kyle seems to irresistibly draw the reader deeper into the joy of abiding in Christ. For this review I will highlight three strengths:
1. A Theology of Power and Weakness: The cornerstone predicament being the subversion of God’s power for love, a theology of power and weakness aids the church in its true posture before God and the people God has stewarded the church to shepherd. With rampant abuse in the church, the flock requires shepherding to participate in its abiding union with Christ. Jamin and Kyle start by recognizing their own pride in seeking worldly power above the way of Christ abiding power for love. They were desperate for power, and thankfully their pride was exposed, and the idolatry shattered in the face of God’s steadfast mercy (p. xxii). The success the church enjoys in the flesh will inevitably rip asunder the unity and affections of the church. Only when the church lays her wisdom and strength at the foot of the cross will she emerge as the beauty, strength, and wisdom of God in this dark and dying world. Jamin elaborates, conveying, “…there is no silver-bullet leadership strategy in the kingdom of God. There is only wisdom in love through abiding in Christ. This wisdom in love is by faith, and as such, it is an embrace of our weakness and Christ’s strength” (p. 139). Paul’s power and weakness motif against the so-called super apostles of 2 Corinthians emphatically subverts human power for the power of God made manifest through abiding in Christ’s love: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”[3] Over and against the temptation to revel in the grandiose power of human flesh, Paul calls us to embrace the power of God by vulnerably living in our weakness by faith in Christ for His power. The good news is, we have Christ living in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. A Theology of Abiding in Christ’s Love: Jamin writes something profound, and incredibly telling of the lives of those interviewed, writing, “Their depth was not merely the result of having read more books than everyone else, but was the fruit of many years of deep communion with God” (p. 37). The core of this work is reminding the church about her most fundamental calling; abide in Christ. We love because he first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19), meaning, Christ provided the means necessary to draw us near to Him through abiding in Christ’s love and participating in His union. The core issue comes to a head when we face the barrenness of our desire for significance, influence, and success-at the expense of abiding in Christ for power in love. Their focus on a theology of abiding in Christ’s love is like honey oozing from the pages. One cannot turn a page without its sticky, sweet residue running down your beard. This stuff isn’t washing off unless you painstakingly scrub it off with the filthy power of worldliness. The church must exchange her power for the power of God, abiding in Christ in our weakness is the way forward.
3. A Theology of Biblical Inclusion: Inclusion has become a dirty word as of late. The irony of evangelical word cancellation is how weird it is that the church let a worldly movement steal the word. Frustrating at best. Nevertheless, I am humbled and encouraged by Jamin and Kyle’s decision to include the daily realities of unbiblical exclusion of persons with disabilities, who are often isolated and marginalized by the intoxicating preaching which envisions and motivates the churches worldly power grabbing. The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the lamb is a great reminder that “The pastoral vocation is a call to embrace our weakness, not to actualize our abilities” (p. 119). In Christ all persons, regardless of ability, are called to participate in union with Christ and his mission for the church. Disability interrupts the Western Evangelical obsession with fast-paced, success driven, power dynamics of the church which often leave persons with disabilities on the sidelines. Jamin encourages the church to consider “When flourishing is seen as “getting things done” or “achieving,” we tend to reject the people Jesus sought out-the outcast, those with disabilities, and the weak” (p. 50). Where isolation and marginalization exist at the expense of the weak, Christ’s love and power are likewise isolated and marginalized from the life of the church.
Personal Reflection
The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb does not need to be assigned with a weakness. In this cultural moment the church needs a robust recentering toward the true nature of her calling, which is to abide in Christ. Jamin and Kyle deliver a remarkable word in due season. The church in America has forgotten where the power of the church resides; namely, in abiding communion with God. God’s power in abiding love looks like a limping bride, in all her weakness, by grace and steadfast faithfulness, entering in through the narrow gate. Beauty for ashes will be revealed on that day. The occasion for writing is an attempt by the authors to redirect the church to its true abiding power in Christ. Where abiding power of Christ does not rest, all manner of church abuse may exist. Jamin lights the way for us in writing:
“To walk in the way from above we need to hold fast to the words of Jesus: Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the pure in heart… Blessed are the peace makers (Matt. 5:3-9). We who embrace power in weakness for love in the face of suffering, shame, and ridicule are those who are blessed. We cling to the truth that an embrace of kingdom power, if we have the courage, will unveil the freedom known in Christ. Power in weakness is freedom because it is a call to find our all in God, and in doing so, to discover our true mission in the world in Christ. It is in Christ, and in him alone, that we find life. Therefore, it is in Christ, and in him alone, that we come to understand the Christian nature of power. So now, we do not live by sight, but we live by faith, trusting that this path is the weighty way of the kingdom” (p. 219).
The world and the church are full of hate. Jesus said in the last days, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”[4] Therefore, let us pray to God for His gracious mercy, and let the winds of His Spirit warm our hearts, lest we grow cold in the wake of our enemies’ tactics. I want my heart to be alive in Christ and free from bitterness in this sin filled world. Jamin and Kyle have written a powerful book because deep inside the stillness of our hearts, the church knows that life in Christ is one impacted by pain and perplexity. However, for those who abide in Christ, pain stricken and just as needy as everyone else, Christ’s love will prevail in us, and His power will be made manifest through His church. In these dark days the church must delve deep into the grace of God to participate in His abiding love. Jamin and Kyle have acted as prophets, calling us away from our destructive reliance on self and man-made power structures, they have called us back to Christ, our first love, the one in whom all power and glory and honor are reserved. I have no doubt that this book is a life book for me. Easily one of the top ten books I have read over the last ten years.
[1]Jamin Goggin. “About.” Metamorpha Ministries, 2023. Web. 24 April 2023. http://www.metamorpha.com/about/jamin-goggin/
[2]Kevin Jarre. “Tombstone.” AFI Catalogue, 1993. Web. 25 April 2023. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59687?sid%3D76ecb5f8-12af-42af-899e-cade95e83b69%26sr%3D1.479148%26cp%3D1%26pos%3D0
[3]ESV. English Standard Version. Wheaton, ILL: Crossway, 2001. 2 Corinthians 12:9. Print.
[4]ESV. English Standard Version. Wheaton, ILL: Crossway, 2001. Matthew 24:12-13. Print.